Sant'Erasmo Festival

The patronal feast of Civitella Messer Raimondo

Perched at an altitude of 613 meters on a hill surrounded by the Verde and Aventino rivers, in the heart of the Majella National Park, the village of Civitella Messer Raimondo (province of Chieti, Abruzzo) has just over seven hundred inhabitants. Every year, on June 2nd, this small community gathers around its patron saint, Sant'Erasmo, for a festival that blends the sacred and the civil.

Devotion and memory

The day follows a long-standing rhythm: the solemn mass in honor of the patron saint, the procession of the statue of Sant'Erasmo through the streets of the historic center, and the civil ceremony at the War Memorial, featuring the flag-raising, the laying of wreaths, and speeches by the mayor and local authorities. The anniversary falls on the same day as Republic Day, and in Civitella, the two celebrations merge into a single day of community spirit.

The fair and the market

Alongside the religious and institutional aspects, June 2nd is also the day of the traditional Sant'Erasmo Fair: the village streets fill with stalls and street markets, with vendors booking their spots through the municipality each year. It is the perfect opportunity for a stroll among stalls, local products, and handicrafts, in a festive atmosphere that delights both young and old.

Music in the square

The marching band and guest musical groups add color to the day, accompanying the festivities and enlivening the square until evening. In 2025, the event was further enriched by the inauguration of the new "Civitas" Green Park, a green space returned to the community.

A village to discover

The festival is also the perfect excuse to visit Civitella Messer Raimondo and its heritage: the Castello dei Conti Baglioni in the historic center, Palazzo Gattone with its Museum of Peasant Civilization, and the Church of the Santissimo Salvatore, whose main portal features a mosaic depicting Sant'Erasmo himself. All around, the trails of the Majella and the Aventino Valley offer a natural landscape of rare beauty, complemented by local gastronomic specialties like the campanella, the village's savory spiced sausage.